Works For Me Wednesday: Honey

With it being cold season, Hannah has had a few coughs already. She must be like me and just be prone to them. Two weeks ago she was sick with everything: cold symptoms and fever. This week...she just has a cough at night. Last winter, my doctor said that I could give her a small dosage of Children's Robitussin. After doing some research, I hesitate to do that now, and have saved the cough syrup for a last resort. What I have found that works wonderfully is...honey! If she wakes up coughing, I give her a little less than a teaspoon full of honey. It's just enough to coat her throat and stop the coughing. It's a great, natural way to stop the cough! :) If your child won't take the honey straight...I've also read to mix it in with some warm tea or juice.

*please note, babies under one year of age should not have honey.

So during the cough and cold season...honey is what works for me!

For more works for me Wednesday tips head over to We Are THAT Family.

Works for Me Wednesday: Homemade Bubble Bath

Hannah loves having bubbles in the tub. This was a super frugal and easy way to give her bubbles in no time.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup baby shampoo

3/4 cup water

1/4 tsp. salt

Mix shampoo and water until combined. Add salt and stir until thicken slightly. Use a funnel to pour into a bottle.


See...I told you it was easy...and look at the bath time fun!

collldddd....

we love bathtime!

That's was works for me...for more great ideas head over to We Are THAT Family. :)

Works for Me Wednesday- Gift Giving Ideas

Heart Beat Bear
I loved making these adorable bears for my mom and mother in law the Christmas that we were expecting Hannah. I went to Build a Bear and made a bear for each of them. I purchased a record your own voice box, but didn't sew it in. I brought it home, and recorded Hannah's heart beat on it. (I had her heartbeat on our ultrasound video, but you can also take the box to a doctors visit to record) I sewed the box into the bears chest, and then the Grandmas could hear her heart beat any time. Now as Hannah grows and goes to visit Grandma..she can hear her "heartbeat bear".

Fleece Blanket

Our first Christmas, we had a budget of $5 for our gift for each other...yes that's right $5. I was student teaching, and Seth was working shipping and receiving, so things were tight. It sure was fun to be creative. I found some fleece on sale at Joanns and went to work on a blanket for Seth. I used felt and puffy paint to decorate and put glued the decals on with fabric glue. A simple blanket stitch around the edges tied it all together.

A gift that Hannah LOVES is her fleece tie blanket. Her friend, Fiona, made it for her last Valentines Day. Simply put two pieces of fleece together, cut tabs around the edges, and knot. (For complete instructions go here)This is a great gift because the colors and designs can be changed to match the taste of the person recieving your gift. This has become Hannah's favorite blankie and goes everywhere with us!

For more gift giving ideas head over to We Are That Family.

Works for Me Wednesday: Personalized Halloween Treat Bag

I found this idea in my Family Fun magazine (which by the way...if your a magazine lover like me...this is a great one!). I made Hannah her own personlized treat bag. I printed last years Halloween picture (is she an adorable giraffe or what?!) on iron-on transfer paper, then simply ironed it on to a plain tote. We will add pictures from each Halloween all the way

around and write the year with puffy paint. What a good way to remember each of her costumes! For more Works for Me Wednesday tips head over to We Are That Family.

WFMW books in the bed

This is a tip that I learned from reading "On Becoming ToddlerWise". I try really hard to rise early to have some quiet time with the Lord before Hannah gets up. Because of the way our small house is set up, Hannah sometimes hears me, and wakes up before I'm ready for her to get up.

When I put her to bed at night, I lay a few books at the foot of her crib. I tell her that when she wakes up in the morning, she can read them. Thankfully, this works for me! Hannah gets up and quietly reads for a few minutes, buying me a little bit more of much needed quiet time in the morning.

For more great works for me Wednesday tips head over to We are that Family.

WFMW: Craigslist + Garage Sales= cheap fall wardrobe

I LOVE garage sales! But with having a little toddler, they have been a bit more challenging this summer (ie: putting baby in and out of the car seat, baby running up and down driveway, etc.). My rule of thumb is that (if we are actually in town) on Thur. I get on craigslist and search in my town for garage sales. I scroll through the ones (only in my town) that have baby items listed. I make a short list and off I go. We usually only go to one or two. This system has worked out great for me because I know that I'm going to a garage sale that has baby things. No more stopping at Grandma's garage sale and getting baby out of the car seat for nothing. Works like a charm! A few weeks ago (haven't had much time to garage sale since) I hit up one sale. She had fall clothes all in 18 months...how perfect! I got 6, 3-piece outfits for $2 at piece, plus jeans, pj's and other cute tops. I got shoes and a bundle me to sell on ebay, something for my sisters baby, and even a few tops for myself....all because I took a few minutes to get on craigslist before me left. So much fun!

Tons of great clothes for the fall (and some for summer too)

for ebay

and even a few things for me :)

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas head over to We Are THAT Family

Favorite Summer Recipes

My friend Teri shared this recipe with me last summer. It's healthy, delicous, and inexpensive to make...hope that you enjoy it too!

Summer Bowtie Pasta & Chicken

2 boneless chicken breasts

bowtie pasta (approx. 1/2 a box)

1 head of broccoli

1 pkg. good seasoning "garlic & herb" dressing mix, prepare as directed on the package

ground red pepper & parmesan cheese to taste

Prepare dressing according to package. Cut chicken into small pieces- cook in skillet with a little of the dressing until no longer pink. Sprinkle with red pepper to you liking. Meanwhile, cook bowtie pasta as usual. Cut broccoli into small pices. Add broccoli to bowtie pasta water during last few minutes of boiling (just to barely cook the broccoli; don't overcook). Drain broccoli & pasta. Add to skillet. Add the rest of the dressing & heat. Sprinkle with parmesan and enjoy.

I had too many favorite summer recipes to choose from...so I thought I would also share a favorite drink and dessert...and of course they are both pampered chef recipes. For yummy summer drink go here, and for a delcious summer desser that is perfect of the Fourth of July go here. I try to keep new recipes posted for the season on my website, check it out :).

For more summer recipes head on over to We are that Family.